Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Sweet Sunday
It was lovely getting back into my own bed in the early hours of Sunday morning, following our trip to Naples. I slept very well!
I was up and ready though for the start of the fourth days play in the cricket - England still 37 in front with 6 Aussie wickets left to take. It was a great days play - classic in a lot of ways. I thought that the Aussies failed to take advantage early on, concentrating on survival and not scoring at many opportunities, thereby giving England the edge. The consensus is that whatever the situation, you should play (as close to) your normal game if possible. Katich did this, squirting singles all over the place, but Clarke did not. It may have taken well over an hour, but when Clarke was out England were still in front.
I actually like Adam Gilchrist (contrary to most of the current Aussie team). I traveled with his wife and first child on a flight from Adelaide to Perth a couple of years back, and dutiful father Gilly met them at the airport. He hasn't had the best Ashes tour though, with his reputation tarnished a little as a keeper (dropping a few at OT) and batter (who is becoming Freddie's round-the-wicket poodle). He is sooooo dangerous though, and as I switched my attentions to the football on the other side I couldn't be sure that this would be England's game. I checked the score whenever there was a decent break in play and seemed to just miss wickets each time (maybe I should have turned over more frequently!).
Charlton played very well in their first "proper" test of the new Premiership season, completely out-playing Boro. Full match reports are on the official site and also by other bloggers (see links right). I thought our midfield was dominant, the defence quite solid, the wingers pacy and dangerous, and Bent always a threat. Tactically, we smashed them, and when people come to weigh up Curbs and McLaren's potential for the England job maybe that should be remembered. (Last season, Boro beat Charlton 2-1 at The Valley and Stevie-boy made big play that it was two potential England managers in opposition, and that he'd won!) So when will Charlton's first real test be? Either of the next two league games - Brum away or Chelsea at home? Happy days as Tuffers would say!
The footie finished, and that coincided with the last Aussie wicket falling - 128 ahead; I was therefore able to watch all the England second innings. I currently have a very sore little finger due to the lack of a nail - bitten down deep! Although looking confident, a few shots were poor - Bell out hooking, Pieterson wafting, Freddie sleeping, Jones slogging, etc. The lights in Warne and Lee's eyes shone, and they went for the throat. Maybe if they'd gone for the stumps (a problem Lee has had in the past) they may have squeeked home. Hoggie smashed a full toss through extra cover and the relief was all too evident; Gilo did the rest.
One test to go and The Ashes urn is in sight. Can we do it? Yes. Can the Aussies save their collective bacon? Yes.
This whole series, from day one at Lords, has been intense, as I've written on this blog before. No other series that I have ever seen, read or heard about has been as close, exciting, and of as good quality as this one has. These are the top two test teams in the World, and they are knocking seven bells out of each other to win the World crown (or urn). Nip and tuck the whole way, but England are currently on top.
Injuries will still play a part - will McGrath be back? Will Gillespie get recalled? Will MacGill get a surprise chance in place of a batter? Who will come in for Jones if he does not recover from his ankle problem? Surely 12th man all series Tremlett has to be the one, or will Collingwood be included as he can bat and bowl? We will find out next week, and this country cannot wait!
After such a great days sport on TV, we went to the pub for a few beers that evening. While sitting in my local, Pedro45 was approached by a man who asked him to confirm his name. It seems this person had been at primary school with me! I've never met him since, and only vaguely recall his name...even though we may have been good friends in those dim and distant days. Strange, he knew me but I would never in a million years have recognised him.
It had been a very sweet Sunday.
I was up and ready though for the start of the fourth days play in the cricket - England still 37 in front with 6 Aussie wickets left to take. It was a great days play - classic in a lot of ways. I thought that the Aussies failed to take advantage early on, concentrating on survival and not scoring at many opportunities, thereby giving England the edge. The consensus is that whatever the situation, you should play (as close to) your normal game if possible. Katich did this, squirting singles all over the place, but Clarke did not. It may have taken well over an hour, but when Clarke was out England were still in front.
I actually like Adam Gilchrist (contrary to most of the current Aussie team). I traveled with his wife and first child on a flight from Adelaide to Perth a couple of years back, and dutiful father Gilly met them at the airport. He hasn't had the best Ashes tour though, with his reputation tarnished a little as a keeper (dropping a few at OT) and batter (who is becoming Freddie's round-the-wicket poodle). He is sooooo dangerous though, and as I switched my attentions to the football on the other side I couldn't be sure that this would be England's game. I checked the score whenever there was a decent break in play and seemed to just miss wickets each time (maybe I should have turned over more frequently!).
Charlton played very well in their first "proper" test of the new Premiership season, completely out-playing Boro. Full match reports are on the official site and also by other bloggers (see links right). I thought our midfield was dominant, the defence quite solid, the wingers pacy and dangerous, and Bent always a threat. Tactically, we smashed them, and when people come to weigh up Curbs and McLaren's potential for the England job maybe that should be remembered. (Last season, Boro beat Charlton 2-1 at The Valley and Stevie-boy made big play that it was two potential England managers in opposition, and that he'd won!) So when will Charlton's first real test be? Either of the next two league games - Brum away or Chelsea at home? Happy days as Tuffers would say!
The footie finished, and that coincided with the last Aussie wicket falling - 128 ahead; I was therefore able to watch all the England second innings. I currently have a very sore little finger due to the lack of a nail - bitten down deep! Although looking confident, a few shots were poor - Bell out hooking, Pieterson wafting, Freddie sleeping, Jones slogging, etc. The lights in Warne and Lee's eyes shone, and they went for the throat. Maybe if they'd gone for the stumps (a problem Lee has had in the past) they may have squeeked home. Hoggie smashed a full toss through extra cover and the relief was all too evident; Gilo did the rest.
One test to go and The Ashes urn is in sight. Can we do it? Yes. Can the Aussies save their collective bacon? Yes.
This whole series, from day one at Lords, has been intense, as I've written on this blog before. No other series that I have ever seen, read or heard about has been as close, exciting, and of as good quality as this one has. These are the top two test teams in the World, and they are knocking seven bells out of each other to win the World crown (or urn). Nip and tuck the whole way, but England are currently on top.
Injuries will still play a part - will McGrath be back? Will Gillespie get recalled? Will MacGill get a surprise chance in place of a batter? Who will come in for Jones if he does not recover from his ankle problem? Surely 12th man all series Tremlett has to be the one, or will Collingwood be included as he can bat and bowl? We will find out next week, and this country cannot wait!
After such a great days sport on TV, we went to the pub for a few beers that evening. While sitting in my local, Pedro45 was approached by a man who asked him to confirm his name. It seems this person had been at primary school with me! I've never met him since, and only vaguely recall his name...even though we may have been good friends in those dim and distant days. Strange, he knew me but I would never in a million years have recognised him.
It had been a very sweet Sunday.
